May is Skin Cancer Awareness month – Be SunSmart!

May 2, 2013

One out of five Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime. Two out of three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70.

“About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 65 percent of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun,” says Perry Robins, MD, President of The Skin Cancer Foundation. “Everyone, regardless of skin color, should make staying safe in the sun a priority and incorporate sun protection measures into their daily life.”

About 30% of the melanoma skin cancers are found in areas not normally exposed to sun, so it’s important to check everywhere. Melanomas are malignant and are deadly if not found and treated early. Just five sunburns or one blistering sunburn at any time in your life doubles your risk of melanoma. But skin cancer is highly preventable if you are smart about sun exposure.

Here are some great links for choosing a good sunscreen as well as some scary facts about sunscreen. EWG.org (Environment Working Group) also has an extensive testing of sunscreens so you can search for & evaluate specific brands and versions for efficacy and safety.